TALLAHASSEE, FL — Today, the Florida House Professions & Public Health Subcommittee is considering HB 687, titled the “Free Speech of Health Care Practitioners” bill, which would allow doctors, nurses, dentists, and other medical professionals to spread medical disinformation, including on social media, without being reprimanded, sanctioned, or having their license revoked by their board. Dr. Frederick Southwick, an infectious diseases specialist in Gainesville, released the following statement regarding the legislation:
“Physicians and nurses are dedicated to improving the health and welfare of their patients. One of the critical conditions for achieving these goals is trust. Floridians should be able to trust the information coming from their doctor or nurse as accurate and safe, but this legislation would allow the few health care providers who choose to spread disinformation to continue endangering lives without penalty. All physicians ascribe to the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm. Providing harmful recommendations betrays this sacred oath. Just as a medical professional who provides substandard treatment and injures a patient should be held accountable, so should they be responsible for spreading disinformation that could gravely harm those who trust them. This legislation is yet another attempt by some Republicans in the Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis to politicize health care, and I fear there could be deadly consequences for Floridians.”
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